January 27, 2012

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Ladies and gents, say hello to your new addiction. Campus Candy Yogurt Bar & Snackateria has officially opened its doors on The Drag. This is not just another one of those yogurt bars where your only topping options are blueberries and cereal—we all know that a serious sweet tooth requires some serious candy to truly satisfy.  Although the usual mix-ins are still options at Campus Candy, you’ll also benefit from over 500 different varieties of candy lining the store walls.  We’re having Willy Wonka flashbacks too. Snackateria means you can also order up cupcakes, cake balls and slices of cheesecake in addition to your M&M/Reeses/Snickers topped ice cream, all while lounging in café-style seating and waiting out your food coma in front of plasma TV’s—we could not pick a more perfect combination.

If your sweet tooth isn’t feeling it today, be sure to stop by on February 13 to help raise money towards a new home for the Tuleen Orphans in Tanzania.  University of Texas student Mandy Stein is spearheading the fundraising campaign, and 20% of all proceeds from Campus Candy on that day will go toward the cause. Candy for a good cause? Done.

January 26, 2012

smu 

Rainy days are perfect for staying inside and snuggling up with a good book and a cup of tea. Reality check: you’ll eventually have to go outside to face the weather for class, rain or shine. Rather than channel your inner Olympic hurdler—we all have one—and attempt to jump over every puddle in sight like some twisted game of hopscotch, invest in a good pair of rain boots.  So next time you short jump a puddle, you won’t care about having water spots up to your knees. Rain, Rain, Come Our Way!

From Left to Right

1. J. Crew’s Sperry Shearwater Rain Boots

2. Tom Joules’s Critter Wellies

3. Burberry’s Leather Top Rain Boot

4. Madewell’s Seavees Off Shore Rain Boots

5. Tom Joules’s Striped Wellies (perfect for SMU red/white/blue attire!)

6. Aigle’s Bison Boots

7. Cougar Sienna’s Quilted Storm Boots

8. Tom Joules’s Evedon Wellies

9. Jimmy Choo’s Hunter Rain Boots

10. Aigle’s Equibelle Rain Boots

11. Sorel’s Tivoli Rain Boots (SMU Boulevard Rain Boots!)

12. Hunter’s Champery Rain Boots

If you like your feet to be extra cozy or you just want to dress up your Hunter rain boots go over to this site and pick out your favorite “Fleece Welly Socks!”

Monogramming is another great way to add some flare to your boots and to let your wellies stand out from the others!

January 25, 2012

tcu 

Nothing’s worse than finally overcoming the urge to sit on the couch and watch Gossip Girl reruns, only to arrive at an over-packed gym without a single free machine in sight. With Spring Break right around the corner, the Rec is bound to be packed for the next two months—straight.

But we’re not about to let you give up that easily—no, no.  We’d like you to meet Smart Barre, a total body workout that’s a fusion of ballet, Pilates and yoga specifically designed for those hard-to-work “problem areas” (ie: everything that shows in a bikini). No clue how to pronounce “Pilates,” much less what it entails? No worries. Smart Barre has modified workouts for beginners. There are a ton of time slots to choose from, and class size is always small, so be sure to call ahead to reserve yourself a spot.  No tutu required. But then again, if you want to have a Carrie Bradshaw moment, go for it.

January 24, 2012

tcu 

We all know Camp Bowie is a go-to spot for shopping in Fort Worth, but don’t overlook Blue Bonnet Bakery.  Open since 1934, the bakery occupies a former 1920s church that only adds to the charm of their perfectly moist cakes and fresh eats. Currently you’ll find scrumptious petit fours, Texas fudge cake (truly the best), doughnuts, monkey bread and sugar cookies shaped like cowboy boots—it is rodeo season after all!  Even if you’re not craving something sweet—hey, it happens—they have great breakfast and lunch selections.  With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, you have the perfect excuse for repeat visits to Blue Bonnet Bakery.  We won’t tell anybody those custom cookies you ordered are actually for yourself…

January 23, 2012

baylor 

Seventy degree weather in the middle of winter? We don’t understand Texas weather patterns either, but we do know that having the right shoes makes putting a wardrobe together that much easier. Thankfully, all of our favorite designers have graciously provided us with enough shoe options to ensure we’ve got a style for every season—even if it changes on the daily.  Here are some must-haves that are not only essential to your wardrobe this season, but are popping up all over campus:

Steve Madden “Intyce” Boot: $149.95

Spotted all over campus and throughout Waco, these boots are a fashion fail safe.  Slip them on over a pair of leggings with a baggy shirt for a casual lecture hall look, or pair them with skinnies and a blazer for a more polished vibe.

Tory Burch Flats: prices start at $195

Every girl needs a pair of flats, period. She especially needs a pair that is known to last and won’t kill your feet every time you have to cross campus for a class. We find Tory Burch goes above and beyond the call for the perfect flat.

Vince Camuto “Jordy” Boot: prices vary

Even though this trend has been gracing magazine pages for months now, girls around campus are beginning to realize that the perfect booty is just as essential as a good pair of boots.  We’ve been seeing a lot of these shoes at parties, paired with jeans and a fun top, but the style options with this shoe are truly endless.

January 22, 2012

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All of the incessant typing and note-taking you’ve had to (probably reluctantly) resume this past month is undoubtedly wreaking havoc on your nails.  We won’t even talk about the fact that your feet haven’t seen the light of day in weeks.  Stop by the By Cindy Day Spa on West 5^th for a much-needed beauty reboot.  Polish shades cover every color in the rainbow and come in brands like OPI and Chanel.  Each pedicure chair has a built in massager and an iPad to keep you entertained—no, that was not a typo. Grab the girls for a girly afternoon or pamper your paws solo, either way you’ll leave feeling relaxed and perfectly polished.

January 21, 2012

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Don’t hate on the bingo until you’ve tried the bingo.  Contrary to popular belief, Brazos Bingo is not just a room full of your grandmother’s friends trying to win big.  Your grandma, your roommate and the guy you met at the bar last week are all here trying to win big.  It’s a college-budget friendly night out—only five dollars a session—and you can BYOB.  If you hit a hot streak and feel like sticking around for another session, Brazos City Grill is located inside Brazos Bingo and has a full menu stocked with Texas treats. Think Texas Toothpicks, Chicken Fried Steak and Fried Mushrooms.

Even if you’re not in it to win it—college kids always need more cash—it’s a great alternative to the bar if you’re low on extracurricular funds. Sessions are held at 6:30pm and 8pm Monday through Saturday.

January 20, 2012

smu 

In our opinion, it’s never too early to start a Greek t-shirt collection.  So Bid Day was only a few days ago, and you’re still dying to load up on your new sorority letters? Congratulations, you’re normal. And can we just say we love the enthusiasm?  Two stores that guarantee a great selection of shirts are McCartney’s University Spirit and Brown Bag.

McCartney’s is conveniently situated next to SMU’s campus on Hillcrest, making a shopping trip between classes a possibility.  We love that you can customize any fleece, rugby shirt or trinket your heart desires at this store.

Even though you may live in Dallas, hopping on the TRE (read: Trinity River Express) to Fort Worth is nothing compared to the wonders you’ll find at Brown Bag.  A Fort Worth institution for the last thirty years, this store specializes in hand-painted items, stitched shirts and sweatshirts and hundreds of other cute must-haves.

January 19, 2012

baylor 

Ringing in the New Year means making those dreadful resolutions, which usually involve cutting out the carbs and hitting the gym.  Baylor’s Beararobics is an extensive fitness program available to Baylor students, offering over 40 different classes ranging from Zumba, Hip Hop and Kickboxing to Conditioning, Yoga and Pilates—a favorite among the girls on campus.

Memberships here are totally college-budget friendly. $30 gets you covered for an entire semester, allowing you to try out however many classes you want, as many times as you want!  So if you’re lacking the particular Zen required for your usual Yoga class, try Kickboxing for a little stress relief—the fitness combos are incredibly accommodating.

January 10, 2012

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We applaud you for your lofty New Year’s resolutions: getting in shape, eating healthier, general all-around well-being. But…wait…what’s that you say? Ten days into the new year and you’ve yet to renew your gym membership? You’re trying to pass off the cheese on a slice of pizza as a great source of calcium and vitamin D? No! Snap out of it!

We’ve rounded up several fitness options in Austin that you’re bound to enjoy (or at least tolerate):

1. Camp Gladiator

In our experience, we’ve found that it’s easier to stick to a workout if A) there’s a trainer to talk you through everything and B) you’re surrounded by people with similar goals.  Camp Gladiator is a great workout for people of all fitness levels (newbies all the way to real-life American Gladiators), and it’s rated as the #1 boot camp in Texas.  With that kind of street cred, it’s no wonder there are forty-plus locations across Austin.  Classes run all day from 5:30am to 7:30pm, and with a flat price of $69 a month, you aren’t limited to any single location or time.  This deal is only available to new campers—that’s you!—so check out Camp Gladiator for more details.

2. Castle Hill Fitness

If you’re a little weary of all of that outdoor activity—grass stains aren’t one of springs hottest trends—you’ll want to check out Castle Hill Fitness.  Conveniently located near campus (read: time-saver), there are a multitude of affordable deals on classes and memberships.  Plus, Castle Hill is home to David Garza, named the Best Indoor Cycling Instructor of 2011 by the Austin Fit Magazine Health & Fitness Poll. One month with David will erase any memory of overindulgence before the New Year.

3. Butler Park (formerly Town Lake Park)

Yes, we’re aware this is neither a workout plan nor a gym, but it’s the perfect motivator for the fitness-weary.  A trip to Butler Park will serve as your real-life inspiration board (hello, Pinterest fitness tab). Seeing all of those toned bodies running and cycling around you is bound to get your butt in gear.  After all, the sheer fact that you’re walking around a park puts you miles ahead of everyone on the couch.  Baby steps, ladies!

4. Work Out Videos

If for some reason you’re confined to your living space, be it a lack of transportation—our Dad didn’t go for the “car as Christmas gift” idea either—or that heinous zit you’re too embarrassed to let see the light of day, keep a fitness video on hand.  We’re not talking your mother’s 1985 Jane Fonda VHS—although girlfriend does have some serious stems—we’re talking fitness for the new millennium.  You can always jump rope or, if your downstairs neighbors aren’t particularly keen on that idea, grab some free weights and pop in Get Ripped: Slim & Lean with Jari Love.  Some other personal favorites are the Brazilian Butt Lift, Fat-Burning Kickboxing Workout for Dummies and Step Up with Patrick Goudeau.  You may feel a little goofy at first, but remember you’re in the privacy of your own home and workouts like these burn up to 700 calories at a time!

These options will keep you on track with your fitness goals this year, but don’t kick yourself if you slack a bit—college is a full-time job.  We’ve also found that bringing a friend and new workout clothes are two excellent motivators.